A variable resistance-type exerciser has pivotally interconnected arms with a longer pair of padded handle forming ends and a shorter pair of padded handle forming ends. An elastomeric band is interchangeably fitted to the arms through integral slots in each arm forcing the longer handles apart and the shorter handles together. The elastomeric band can easily be replaced or additional bands added to vary the resistance and resulting weight bearing equivalent load of the device. A pin interconnects the arms forming a device that pivots about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the device and in such a fashion as to allow for pushing and/or pulling motions. The exerciser is used by pushing or pulling the longer ends toward one another and/or by pushing or pulling the shorter ends apart. A multitude of exercises results from applying the above described motions to various upper or lower body muscle groups.
|
1. A resistance-type exerciser comprising pivotally interconnected arms having a pair of more closely spaced handle forming ends and a pair of less closely spaced handle forming ends, the interconnected arms being coupled together by a pin mechanism providing a pivotal interconnection between the interconnected arms so as to provide two sets of functionally usable handles held in tension by an elastic resistance band formed as a continuous loop connected to the exerciser and being held in place through
integral slots formed in the interconnected arms adjacent to the pin mechanism, wherein each slot is elongated and formed on a respective arm.
2. A resistance-type exerciser comprising pivotally interconnected arms having a pair of shorter more closely spaced handle forming ends and a pair of longer, less closely spaced handle forming ends, the interconnected arms being coupled together by a pin mechanism providing a pivotal interconnection between the interconnected arms so as to provide two sets of functionally usable handles held in tension by at least one elastic resistance band formed as a continuous loop received in integral slots in the pair of interconnected arms adjacent to the pin mechanism, wherein each slot is elongated and formed on a respective arm, the slots being configured for receiving a respective end of the at least one resistance band to thereby create tension in both interconnected arms, the handle forming ends being configured to be gripped by a user by which exercises can be performed by one of (i) forcing the shorter, more closely spaced handle forming ends of the exerciser apart in a tension causing exercise, (ii) forcing the longer, less closely spaced ends of the exerciser together in a compression causing exercise, (iii) forcing the shorter, more closely spaced handle forming ends of the exerciser in a compression causing exercise or (iv) forcing the longer, less closely spaced ends of the exerciser apart in a tension causing exercise.
5. A method of exercising using a resistance-type exerciser comprising pivotally interconnected arms having a pair of more closely spaced handle forming ends and a pair of less closely spaced handle forming ends, the interconnected arms being coupled together by a pin mechanism providing a pivotal interconnection between the interconnected arms so as to provide two sets of functionally usable handles held in tension by an elastic resistance band formed as a continuous loop received in integral slots in the pair of interconnected arms adjacent to the pin mechanism, wherein each slot is elongated and formed on a respective arm, the slots being configured for receiving a respective end of the resistance band to thereby create tension in both interconnected arms, comprising at least one of:
(a) providing first and second gripping handles pinned about an axis so as to facilitate lateral motion, each first and second gripping handle being configured to be compressed or moved toward one another by a user in an inward lateral motion against the resistance provided by the elastic band; or
(b) providing first and second gripping handles pinned about an axis so as to facilitate lateral motion, each first and second gripping handle being configured to be extended or moved away from one another by a user in an outward lateral motion against the resistance provided by the elastic band; or
(c) providing first and second gripping handles pinned about an axis so as to facilitate lateral motion, each first and second gripping handle being configured so as to be simultaneously moved in their respective inward or outward lateral motion by a user against the resistance provided by the elastic band thereby allowing for simultaneous use in both lateral directions of motion.
3. The exerciser of
4. The exerciser of
6. The method of
7. The method of
8. The method of
9. The method of
10. The method of
11. The method of
12. The method of
13. The method of
14. The method of
15. The method of
16. The method of
17. The method of
18. The method of
19. The method of
20. The method of
|
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/457,637, filed Apr. 14, 2011, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
This disclosure relates to the use of exercise equipment and, more particularly, to the use of lightweight portable exercise devices, which provide numerous versatile exercises that target a multiplicity of muscle groups within either the upper or lower body.
The present invention is in the technical field of exercise. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of exercise devices. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of lightweight, portable exercise devices.
Conventional exercise devices, such as weights including those of the type of bar bells and dumb bells, stationary exercise machines of either weight bearing or other forms of mechanical or other resistance in nature and the like, are typically either immovable or exceedingly difficult to transport. It is difficult to use these devices in a house, office, or facility outside of a traditional gym because they are large and heavy. Moving such devices typically requires several strong persons, or a sturdy wheeled vehicle such as a reinforced wagon or handcart. The difficulties of bringing such a device into a house or office are multiplied when stairs must be climbed. Further, it is not an uncommon desire to afford such exercise devices as portable rendering them capable of transport on a trip or excursion. Devices as those described, which are heavy and bulky in nature, do not lend themselves to the concept of portability and transport for a journey or use outside of the gym.
Further, exercise devices as heretofore described are most often developed to train specific muscle groups requiring a multiplicity of devices to exercise the entire muscular system of the human body. Such devices are dedicated in task to exercising limited muscle groups requiring unique devices to be maintained for the purpose of providing whole body workout routines. Such equipment is not only numerous due to exercise specificity; but, by nature it is bulky and requires significant space for setup and use, rendering them inappropriate to compact, portable use.
It is in the simplicity of this invention that makes it novel. It is lightweight, portable and versatile in its application rendering it ideal for transport and use both in the home, on trips, and at other locations outside of the traditional gym. The uniqueness of the device also renders the need for heavy, dedicated workout devices unnecessary, eliminating the need for multiple, complex workout equipment in the exercise of the whole body including multiple muscle groups.
The present invention is an exercise device for users that is compact, lightweight and portable. Current devices are either too complicated to manufacture, too limited in the number and quality of exercises that can be performed with them, or both. This device has been designed to be very simple and cost-effective to manufacture, to be extremely portable and usable by the widest variety of people, from senior citizens to body builders and athletes. This invention allows a person to perform numerous exercises with varying degrees of resistance, is fully self-contained, and extremely lightweight and portable.
Referring now to the invention in more detail, in
In more detail, and now referring to the invention of
In further detail, the arms 21 and 22, having been joined through the central slot
In its resting or static state, the device is maintained in a closed configuration by tension in the elastic band
The construction details of the invention as shown in the section view of
Alternatively, it will be appreciated that the location of the slots 17a and 17b and the resistance band 14 could be changed to the opposite side of the pin halves 33 and 34 so that the resistance band 14 causes the device 10 to maintain a closed condition with the longer arms 25a and 25b being forced together and the shorter arms 26a and 26b being forced apart. In yet another alternative embodiment, it will be appreciated that the locations of the longer arms 25a and 25b and the shorter arms 26a and 26b could be reversed. In each of these alternative embodiments, exercises are provided of a nature where the upper, shorter arms are pushed together against the resistance and the lower, longer arms are pulled apart against the resistance.
Using the exercise device 10 of the present invention, a user may perform one or more of the following exercises:
the user holds the exerciser with outstretched arms, and presses or pulls either set of the first and second gripping handles either inward or outward respectively against the resistance provided by the elastomeric band;
the user points outstretched arms vertically in an overhead direction and presses or pulls either set of the first and second gripping handles either inward or outward against the resistance provided by the elastomeric band;
the user points outstretched arms in front with the exerciser held out horizontally, parallel to the floor in front of the user and presses or pulls either set of the first and second gripping handles either inward or outward against the resistance provided by the elastomeric band;
the user holds the exerciser vertically over head and presses or pulls either set of the first and second gripping handles either inward or outward against the resistance provided by the elastomeric band;
the user points the exerciser downward toward the floor and presses or pulls either set of the first and second gripping handles either inward or outward against the resistance provided by the elastomeric band;
the user grips the exerciser and holds it behind the back of the user and presses or pulls either set of the first and second gripping handles either inward or outward against the resistance provided by the elastomeric band;
the user grips the exerciser and holds it in a manner either in front of, above, or behind the torso or head of the body of the user and presses or pulls either set of the first and second gripping handles either inward or outward against the resistance provided by the elastomeric band;
the user grips the exerciser and holds it in a manner perpendicular to the body of the user in such a fashion as to allow the user to pull one of the interconnected arms toward the body with the other interconnected arm of the exerciser having been braced against the body and against the resistance provided by the elastomeric band;
the user grips the exerciser and holds it in a manner with the exerciser lateral to one side of the body of the user with one of the interconnected arms being braced against the body in such a manner as to allow the other of the interconnected arms to be pulled toward the body in a lateral motion, against the resistance provided by the elastomeric band;
the user holds the first and second gripping handles at one end of the exerciser that can be laterally expanded outward, holds the exerciser with outstretched arms, and pushes the first and second gripping handles apart against the resistance provided by the elastomeric band;
the user grips the exerciser and holds the exerciser in a manner either in front of, above, or behind the torso or head of the body of the user and pulls the first and second gripping handles apart against the resistance provided by the elastomeric band;
the user sits in a sitting position and places the exerciser on the lap of the user with one of the first and second gripping handles pointing laterally outward toward either side of the body of the user, holds the exerciser with the other of the first and second gripping handles, and bends at the torso in the direction of one of the first and second gripping handles thereby compressing the first and second gripping handles together against the resistance provided by the elastomeric band;
the user sits in a sitting position and places the first and second gripping handles laterally compressed inward between the left and right thighs of the user, holds the exerciser with outstretched arms for stability, and compresses the first and second gripping handles inward together against the resistance provided by the elastomeric band;
the user holds the first and second gripping handles laterally compressed inward, and places the opposite ends of the first and second gripping handles firmly against the outside of the thighs of the user, and presses the first and second gripping handles outward against the resistance provided by the elastomeric band; and/or
the user sits in a sitting position and places the exerciser on the lap of the user with one of the first and second gripping handles pointing laterally outward toward the side of the body, holding one of the first and second gripping handles that can be compressed downward and rotating one of user's arms downward such that the shoulder muscles of the user are stressed against the resistance provided by the elastomeric band.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.
Dennis, Douglas S., Frey, David W.
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
10780308, | Apr 14 2011 | Elastic band for use in a resistance-type exerciser |
Patent | Priority | Assignee | Title |
2132862, | |||
2529347, | |||
2725232, | |||
2806699, | |||
3349621, | |||
4210323, | May 18 1978 | Body engaging exercising device | |
4374588, | Dec 15 1980 | Isokinetic Sales Co. | Isokinetic exercise device with speed control |
4629186, | Apr 16 1985 | Spring exercise device | |
4733861, | Nov 29 1985 | Multi-use exercise device | |
5399138, | Feb 16 1993 | PORT CARLING CORPORATION | Portable exercise device |
5496245, | Sep 21 1994 | Upper body exercising apparatus | |
5626545, | Jun 04 1993 | NEWMAC INTERNATIONAL, INC | Exercise device |
5634874, | Feb 02 1996 | KEST, ANTHONY MICHAEL | Portable upper anatomy exercise device |
5674164, | Apr 08 1996 | Exercise device | |
5690596, | Mar 15 1996 | Upper body exercise apparatus | |
6024679, | Apr 24 1997 | SHARPER IMAGE LOOK, INC | Compact exercise device |
7008354, | Apr 15 2004 | Sum Sporting Goods Works | Adjustable scissors-action exerciser |
7789815, | Apr 11 2006 | Chest expander | |
20070066459, | |||
D277593, | May 05 1982 | Physical exerciser | |
D322827, | Feb 02 1990 | V-Partners Ltd. | Hand exerciser or similar article |
D346632, | Jul 15 1991 | Isometric exerciser |
Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Date | Maintenance Fee Events |
Jul 16 2019 | M2551: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 4th Yr, Small Entity. |
Sep 25 2023 | REM: Maintenance Fee Reminder Mailed. |
Mar 11 2024 | EXP: Patent Expired for Failure to Pay Maintenance Fees. |
Apr 17 2024 | M2552: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Yr, Small Entity. |
Apr 17 2024 | M2558: Surcharge, Petition to Accept Pymt After Exp, Unintentional. |
Apr 17 2024 | PMFG: Petition Related to Maintenance Fees Granted. |
Apr 17 2024 | PMFP: Petition Related to Maintenance Fees Filed. |
Date | Maintenance Schedule |
Feb 02 2019 | 4 years fee payment window open |
Aug 02 2019 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Feb 02 2020 | patent expiry (for year 4) |
Feb 02 2022 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4) |
Feb 02 2023 | 8 years fee payment window open |
Aug 02 2023 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Feb 02 2024 | patent expiry (for year 8) |
Feb 02 2026 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8) |
Feb 02 2027 | 12 years fee payment window open |
Aug 02 2027 | 6 months grace period start (w surcharge) |
Feb 02 2028 | patent expiry (for year 12) |
Feb 02 2030 | 2 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12) |